Overview and CQC Inspections

OverallGood

Our inspector's description of this service

Last updated 21 March 2017

Long Barn Lane Surgery provides primary care services to approximately 5,700 patients from a converted dwelling in South Reading. The premises are accessible for patients and visitors who have difficulty managing steps. All patient services are offered on the ground and first floors. The practice comprises three consulting rooms, one treatment room, a patient waiting area, reception area, administrative and management offices and a meeting room. The practice also offers services from a satellite surgery at Southcote Clinic. The satellite practice has one consulting room, one treatment room, a patient waiting area and reception area.

The practice population of patients aged between 0 to 19 years and 25 to 34 years are higher than the national average and there are a lower number of patients aged above 55 years old compared to the national average. The practice serves a large ethnic population (22%), with diverse cultural beliefs and needs. The practice is located in a part of Reading with the highest levels of income deprivation in the area.

The practice has two male GP partners, one female salaried GP and a regular locum GP (male). The GP whole time equivalent (WTE) represents 2.75 full time GPs. One of the GP partners started in December 2016 and has submitted an application to the Care Quality Commission to become a registered partner.

The practice employs two practice nurses (both female) who make up 1.75 WTE. The new practice manager is supported by a lead receptionist and a team of administrative and reception staff. Services are provided via a Primary Medical Services (PMS) contract. (PMS contracts are negotiated locally between GP representatives and the local office of NHS England).

The practice is open between 8am and 6.30pm Monday to Friday at Long Barn Lane Surgery. Appointments are from 8.30am and 11.50pm every morning and 2pm to 6.20pm daily. Extended hours appointments are offered on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday evenings until 7.30pm and every alternate Saturday. In addition to pre-bookable appointments that could be booked up to six weeks in advance, urgent appointments were also available for patients that needed them.

The practice at Southcote surgery (the satellite) is open at the following times:

Monday afternoons from 3pm to 5.30pm, with a GP available from 4pm until 5pm.

Wednesday afternoons from 4pm to 5.30pm, with a GP available from 4.30pm until 5.30pm

Friday mornings from 8.30am to 11am, with a GP available from 9.30am to 10.30am.

There are no pre-bookable appointments at Southcote surgery. Patients can walk in and see a GP during the opening times.

Inspection ratings

We rate most services according to how safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led they are, using four levels:

Outstanding – the service is performing exceptionally well.

Good – the service is performing well and meeting our expectations.

Requires improvement – the service isn't performing as well as it should and we have told the service how it must improve.

Inadequate – the service is performing badly and we've taken enforcement action against the provider of the service.

No rating/under appeal/rating suspended – there are some services which we can’t rate, while some might be under appeal from the provider. Suspended ratings are being reviewed by us and will be published soon.

Ticks and crosses

We don't rate every type of service. For services we haven't rated we use ticks and crosses to show whether we've asked them to take further action or taken enforcement action against them.

There's no need for the service to take further action. If this service has not had a CQC inspection since it registered with us, our judgement may be based on our assessment of declarations and evidence supplied by the service.

The service must make improvements.

At least one standard in this area was not being met when we inspected the service and we have taken enforcement action.